Musharraf's "Freedom Of Information Ordinance" In Pakistan

Former President Musharraf had taken an appreciable step of issuing an ordinance for freedom of information during 2002. That ordinance gave right to the Pakistani citizens to see the record of any federal government department. These institutions included judiciary, tribunals, ministries, departments, boards and local councils. Afterward, sind government also implemented, Freedom of Information Act" in 2006. During 2010 present government also made this act of right to know any official information, the part of Pakistan's constitution. In this regard new article 19 A was introduced through 18th amendment. This article quotes," Every citizen of Pakistan has the right to know the official record but to see sensitive documents respective rules are to be followed." But ironically, if a government officer refuses to show the record he can not be punished even by the president of Pakistan. When comparing this act with that of Indian, if an officer does not obey the rules he is fined up to Rs 25000 that he has to pay out of his pocket, in India. Therefore, the officer is forced to listen to the complaint and have to show the record to the person concerned.
Another major difference between the act in Pakistan and India is that in India a department has been established for the implementation of RTI and monitors the activities from federal level to the lowest level. In Pakistan even educated people do not know about the act what to speak of masses. However, NGO's are benefiting from the act and getting the requisite information from various departments posing to eliminate corruption. But corrupt officers hinder their way.
During August 2009, a NGO in Karachi and a citizen asked the the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) about the number of buildings approved under the Sind Regulation And Control Ordinance 2002. Because many illegal buildings had been approved through fees/ bribery. But, citizen was not replied within 21 days, so he complained to Federal Ombudsman. Then officer provided the information but not complete. So it is needed that the act be implemented in its true sense and spirit otherwise no use of amendments and passing the laws .

General Kiyani Can Never Be Dictated By USA To Attack North Waziristan

Pakistan's Army Chief General Kiyani is not a politician that on a phone call from a G-22 officer of USA will start attacking NW and killing innocent people( may be a few terrorists). He is a soldier who sacrifices his life for the safety and security of the country. He is the chief of world's best trained, brave and patriotic solders. USA should remain within its limits, when our brave Chief will deem suitable in the larger interest of the nation he would take step. But never on the requests or warnings or orders of the USA. Whole Nation stands shoulder to shoulder to him on this issue not with the coward and weak politicians. We have no concerns whether NATO forces are being defeated by Taliban and they want to flee soon or they stay longer in Afghanistan to be killed by Taliban. Are Americans not satisfied with daily Drone attacks and killing hundreds of women , children and other unarmed people.?
Though USA newspapers are wrongly reporting and creating misunderstandings every day about the operation in NW. As a major US newspaper reports that Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani was singled out for resisting Obama administration's pressures to launch a ground assault against Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in Nort Waziristan, now a principal American demand. "Recent U.S. intelligence estimates have concluded that he (Gen. Kayani) is unlikely to change his mind anytime soon," The Washington Post said in a dispatch, reported: 'Pakistan's top general vexes US'. "Despite the entreaties, Kayani doesn't trust U.S. motivations and is hedging his bets in case the American strategy for Afghanistan fails," the newspaper said, citing American officials. Noting that Kayani is viewed as the most powerful man in Pakistan, the newspaper said the US has "yet to persuade him to undertake what its strategy review concluded is a key to success in the Afghan war, the elimination of heavens inside Pakistan where the Taliban plots and stages attacks on coalition troops in Afghanistan." In a joint dispatch, The Washington Post staff writers, Karin Brulliard and Karen DeYoung, wrote: "Kayani, who has more direct say over the country's security strategy than its president or prime minister, has resisted personal appeals from President (Barrack) Obama, U.S. military commanders and senior diplomats. Recent U.S. intelligence estimates have concluded that he is unlikely to change his mind anytime soon. "In many ways, Kayani is the personification of the vexing problem posed by Pakistan. Like the influential military establishment he represents, he views Afghanistan on a timeline stretching far beyond the U.S. withdrawal, which is slated to begin this summer. While the Obama administration sees the insurgents as an enemy force to be defeated as quickly and directly as possible, Pakistan has long regarded them as useful proxies in protecting its western flank from inroads by India, its historical adversary.
'Kayani wants to talk about the end state in South Asia,' said one of several Obama administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive relationship. U.S. generals, the official said, 'want to talk about the next drone attacks.'

The World's Longest Sea Bridge Of China To Be Opened In New Year

China has unveiled the world’s longest sea bridge, which stretches a massive 26.4 miles, five miles further than the distance between Dover and Calais and longer than a marathon.
The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, completed earlier this week, links the main urban area of Qingdao city, East China’s Shandong province, with Huangdao district, straddling the Jiaozhou Bay sea areas.
The road bridge, which took four years and cost a cool £5.5billion to construct, will be open for use in the New Year and is almost three miles longer than the previous record-holder, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana.
That structure features two bridges running side by side and is 23.87 miles (38.42km) long.
The three-way Qingdao Haiwan Bridge is a staggering 174 times longer than London’s Tower Bridge, over the Thames River and shaves 19 miles off the drive from Qingdao to Huangdao.
Two separate groups of workers have been building the different ends of the structure since 2006 and they were relieved when all the bridges connected properly, which they managed to do on December 22.
One engineer commented, ‘The computer models and calculations are all very well but you can't really relax until the two sides are bolted together. ‘Even a few centimetres out would have been a disaster.’
With an overall length of 42.58km, the route between Qingdao and Huangdao will be shortened by 30km, cutting the travel time by about 20 minutes.
However, the colossal construction is set to hold the record as the longest sea bridge only for a few years and it will be bettered by another Chinese bridge in the next decade.

We Have The Right To Know - A Revolutionary Demand Of Indians

Though the Supreme Court of India through judicial activism had already told the masses that they had the "Right To Information" and the constitution permits them to know what their government is doing. This was made clear to them by the court before the public movement started. During 2002, in the case of Association for Democratic Reforms the supreme court decision came to light in which the contesters of elections were ordered to make the details of their assets public. But the Laborer Kissan Shakti Movement brought another version of "right to information" demand to give them access to government record of their salaries.
However, the influential people like in Pakistan never give right to the poors to know about their secret deals and business . So they created hurdles and at least 10 activists of the movement lost their lives. Among them 4 belonged to Maharashtar, and remaining were from Gujrat, Bihatr, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.Among the founders of RTI Act Arona Rai ponted out that due to free economic conditions/ situation the private firms/institutions had wider interests. They have links with bureaucrats, Politicians and criminals to earn money by hook or by crook. Therefore social workers fighting against them were attacked vastly. Among the RTI workers 33 years Ameet was killed too because he opposed the mining project of a private company that had to damage the natural beauty of the Gujrat's Geera Gungle.
Indias have sacrificed lives for the noble cause. Can this act be promulgated in Pakistan the Right To Information?

Eat Cucumber and Alleviate Acidity

Cucumber is a healthy and highly beneficial to your health in various purposes. Surplus stomach acid after having meals can cause stomach discomfort, heartburn, excess gas, nausea and bloating. Most of the traditional pills, liquids and tablets for alleviating acidity will be distasteful to ingest and often may not work effectively. Luckily, eating cucumber will help you in alleviating acidity in a most natural and effective way.
Always look out for fresh cucumbers that has dark-green colored skin without any black or yellow spots and the flesh is solid all through the length. If the cucumber stem is light-green, yellow or dried up then it lacks freshness. Also if the diameter of the cucumber is too big, it is over seasoned and contains a large seed in the middle.
Wash the cucumber and chop out into slices of about 1/4th inch thick. Eating 2 slices of this for every 2 hours alleviates acidity. You can also eat the cucumber slices more or less based on the sternness of your acidity symptoms.
If you want to store the cucumber for a long time, then retain the skin and seeds of it in order to maintain its nutrients, fiber and most importantly freshness.
Revamp the cucumber by blending it with few other ingredients that help in alleviating acidity such as raw garlic, yogurt, mint, carrots or cottage cheese.
You can formulate any type of Greek cucumber sauce by using a cup of yogurt, half of the grated cucumber along with fresh garlic, pepper and salt to taste. You can use this sauce with salads, sandwiches, meats with your daily meal in order to evade acidity.
Always make use of grated or sliced cucumbers in salads, but make sure that you do not use much amount of vinegar in the toppings as this will nullify the effects of cucumber on surplus acid.

What The Year 2011 Has For Pakistan

Happy New Year To All My Pakistani and Foreign Brothers
It is now almost 3 years to be completed in power by the present government since 2008. About the present government of Asif Ali Zardari all the political leaders, media, and the opposition parties were rightly thinking that this government will have to face many challenges e.g. that of terrorism, sick economy, load shedding of electricity and gas, unemployment, poverty, high inflation rate, price-hike and the lost image of country abroad.
This government like all the previous ones blames the preceding government for all the troubles. But, what the present government did for the masses during three years?. The people are aware that government is not facing any opposition from the friendly opposition and it had vastly a free hand. And now the people are watching the most devastating situation and challenges in the country once again and they see that the condition is even worst.
Government is boosting of 18th, 19th amendments, reconciliation between political parties, Haqooq-e-Balochistan, success in controlling the terrorism (but the credit goes to army not the government) in South Waziristan and Swat But, what benefits will the amendments give to the common people. Situation of Baluchistan is more deteriorating and arresting the the Baloch leader, the grandson of Akbar Bugti may result in worsening the situation in Baluchistan.
However, floods in the last monsoon damaged properties, agricultural lands, crops on millions of acres, houses, buildings and left millions of people homeless. This natural calamity created a lot of hurdles for our ailing economy. Though foreign aid and aids with in the country compensated the condition a bit , but still many homeless are living in tents.
New year has started and government has given the new year's gift to Pakistanis in the form of increase in the prices of POL The fact is that there is no hope in the rectification of the matters. It seems that the inflation will increase, IMF has refused to release the installment of loan. Corruption will increase due to price hike and the corrupt people will also increase the rates.
Poor people of Pakistan will become poorest and the richer the richest.

Israel Claims World's Oldest Human Remains

Israeli archaeologists have discovered human remains dating from 400,000 years ago, challenging conventional wisdom that Homo sapiens originated in Africa, the leader of excavations in Israel said.
Avi Gopher, of Tel Aviv University's Institute of Archaeology, said testing of stalagmites, stalactites and other material found in a cave east of Tel Aviv indicates that eight teeth uncovered there could be the earliest traces so far of our species. "Our cave was used for a period of about 250,000 years from about 400,000 years ago to about 200,000 years ago," he said.
"The teeth are scattered through the layers of the cave, some in the deeper part, that is to say from 400,000 years and through all kinds of other layers that can be up to 200,000 years. The oldest are 400,000 years old," he added."
That calls into question the widely held view that Africa was the birthplace of modern man, said Gopher, who headed the dig at Qesem Cave.
"It is accepted at the moment that the earliest Homo sapiens that we know is in east Africa and is 200,000 years old, or a little less. We don't know of anywhere else where anyone claims to have an earlier Homo sapiens," he said.
Gopher said the first teeth were discovered in 2006 but he and his team waited until they had several samples, then conducted years of testing, using a variety of dating methods, before publishing their findings.
Digging continues at the cave, the university said, with researchers hoping to "uncover additional finds that will enable them to confirm the findings published up to now and to enhance our understanding of the evolution of mankind, and especially the appearance of modern man."